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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.